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DAVID 

A TRAGEDY 



BY 



CALE YOUNG RICE 



BY THE SAME AUTHOR 



Charles Di Tocca 



DAVID 

A TRAGEDY 

BY 

GALE YOUNG RIGE 




NEW YORK 

MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. 

M C M I V 



Two hundred and fifty copies of this book have been 

printed at the McClure Press, of which 

this is No. idLi 



•ft 3 



5^ 



< 



t-'^^'io'^ 



LiBBAKV nf CONGRESS 
Two Gooies Received 

MAY 9 1904 




/ r, CooyrlKht Entrv 



CLASS 

COPY B 



XXo. No. 



Copyright, 1904, by 
McClube, Phillips & Co. 



Published May, 1^04. N. 




AFFECTIONATELY 

TO MY BROTHER 

LACY L. RICE 



ACT I 



CHARACTERS 

SAUL King of Israel. 

JONATHAN .... Heir to the throne. 

ISHUI His brother. 

SAMUEL The Prophet of Israel. 

ABNER Captain of the Host of Israel. 

DOEG An Edomite; Chief Servant of Saul, 

and suitor for Michal. 

ADRIEL A lord of Meholah, suitor for Merab. 

DAVID A Shepherd, secretly anointed King. 

ABISHAI A follower of David. 

ABIATHAR .... A Priest and follower of David. 

A PHILISTINE SPY. 

AHINOAM .... The Queen. 

MERAB .... ] ^ , ro ^ 1 At-- 

i..rx^xx » T ^ Daughters oi baul and Ahinoam. 

MICHAL . . . . j ^ 

MIRIAM A blind Prophetess, and later the 

"Witch of Endor." 
JUDITH . . . . ^ 

LEAH V Timbrel-players of the King. 

ZILLA j 

ADAH Handmaiden to Merab. 

A Chorus of Women. A Band of Prophets. Followers of David. 
Soldiers of Saul. People of the Court, etc. 



Ivi] 



DAVID 

ACT I 

SCENE : A Hall of judgment in the palace of Saul at Gibe ah. 
The walls y pillars and ceiling are of cedar richly carven with 
images of serpents, pomegranates and cherubim in gold. The 
floors are of bright marble ; the throne of ivory , hung with a 
lion's skin whose head is its footstool. On the right and left, 
doors y draped with finely woven curtains of purple and white, 
lead to other portions of the palace. Seats toward the front. 
Lamps burn low. 

The Hall, supported on pillars, is open along the back, where 
a Porch, surrounding the Court of the palace, crosses. Through 
the Porch, on the environing hills, glow the camp-fires of the 
Philistines, the enemies of Israel. 

JUDITH, LEAH and ZILLA are reclining restively on 
the fioor of the Hall. 
JUDITH 

[Springing to her feet impatiently.'] 
O for a feast! pomegranate wine and song! 
LEAH 

Oh ! oh ! 
ZILLA 

A feast indeed I the men in camp ! 

[■J 



DAVID 

When was a laugh or any leaping here? 
Never; and none to charm with timbreling! 
[•S^^ goes to the porch.lj^ 
LEAH 

What shall we do? 
JUDITH 

I'll dance. 
ZILLA 

Until you're dead, 
JUDITH 

Or till a youth wed Zilla for her beauty ? 
I'll not soil mine with sullen fear all day 
Because these Philistines press round. As well 
Be wenches gathering grapes or wool ! Come, Leah. 
[She prepares to dance. ^ 
LEAH 

No, Judith, I'll put henna on my nails. 
And mend my anklet. 
[She sits down.^ 
ZILLA 

[At the curtains. '\ Oh! oh, oh! 
JUDITH 

Now hear her ! 
Who, who, now ? who, who is it ? dog, fox, devil ? 
ZILLA 

All! 
JUDITH 

Then 'tis Ishui! [Bounding to curtains.'] Yes, Ishui! 
And fury in him, sallow, sour fury ! 
A jackal were his mate ! Come, come, we'll plague him. 



DAVID 

ZILLA 

And too — with David whom he hates ! 

JUDITH 

Aie, David! 

A joy to rouse men up to jealousy ! 
LEAH 

Why hates he David, Zilla? 

ZILLA 

Stupid Leah! 
JUDITH 

Hush, hush, be meet and ready now; he's near. 
Look as for silly visions and for dreams 1 

\They pose themselves. Ishui enters — sees them. 'Judith sighs ?^ 
ISHUI 

Now timbrel-gaud, why gaping here ! 

JUDITH 

O! 'tis 
Prince Ishui! 
ZILLA 

Prince Ishui! Then he 
Will tell us ! he will tell us ! 

LEAH 

Yes! 
JUDITH 

Of David ! 

O is he come ! when, where, quick, quick, and will 
He pluck us ecstasies out of his harp. 
Winning until we're wanton for him, mad, 
And sigh and laugh and weep to the moon ! 
ISHUI 

Low thing! 

[3] 



DAVID 

ChafFof the king! 
JUDITH 

The king ! I had not thought ! 
David a king! how beauteous would he be ! 
ISHUI 

David ? 
JUDITH 

Turban of sapphire ! robe of gold ! 
ISHUI 

A king ? o'er Israel ? 
JUDITH 

Who, who can tell ! 
Have you not heard? Yesterday in the camp 
Among war-old but fearful men he offered 
Kingly to meet Goliath — great Goliath ! 
ISHUI 

What do you say? to meet Goliath? 
JUDITH 

[Laug/img in his face. \ Aie! 
\He thrusts her from him. She goes dancing with 
Zilla and Leah.l 
ADRIEL 

[^ho has entered^ Ishui, in a rage ? 
ISHUI 

Should I not be! 
ADRIEL 

Not would you be yourself. 
ISHUI 

Not ? [Deftfy.] You say well. 
I should not, no. Pardon, then, Adriel. 

[4l 



DAVID 

ADRIEL 

What was the offence? 
ISHUI 

Turn from it. — I have not 
Bidden you here for vapours ; yet they had 
Substance as well for you ! 
ADRIEL 

For me? 
ISHUI 

Who likes 
Laughter against him ! 
ADRIEL 

I was laughed at? 
ISHUI 

Why, 
It is this shepherd! 
ADRIEL 

David? 
ISHUI 

With his harp ! 
Flinging enchantment on the palace air 
Till he impassions to him all who breathe. 
ADRIEL 

What sting from that? He's lovable and brave. 
ISHUI 

Lovable ? Lovable ? 
ADRIEL 

I do not see. 
ISHUI 

This then : you've hither come with gifts and gold, 

Ls] 



DAVID 

Dream-bringing amethyst and weft of Ind, 

To wed my sister, Merab ? 

ADRIEL 

It is so. 

ISHUI 

And you've the king's consent ; but she denies ? 
ADRIEL 

As every wind, you know it. 
ISHUI 

Still denies! 

And you, lost in the maze of her, fare on 

Blindly and find no reason for it ! 

ADRIEL 

How? 
What reason can be? women are not clear; 
And least unto themselves. 

ISHUI 

Or to their fools. 
\He goes to curtains and draws out Adah.^ 
Your mistress, Merab, girl, whom does she love? 
Unclench your hands. 
ADAH 

I hate her. 
ISHUI 

Insolent ! 
Answer; I am not milky Jonathan. 
Answer; and for the rest — You hear? 
ADAH 

She loves — 
The shepherd David ! 

[6] 



DAVID 

ADRIEL 

Who, girl? 
ADAH 

I care not! 

She is unkind; I will not spy for her 
On Michal, and I'll tell her secrets all! 
And David does not love her — and she raves. 
ISHUI 

Off to your sleep ; now off — 
\^Makes to strikes her.^ 
ADRIEL 

Ishui, no. 

ISHUI 

And see you now how * lovable * he is ! 
I tell you that he stands athwart us all ! 
The heart of Merab swung a censer to him. 
My seat at table with the king usurped ! 
Mildew and mocking to the harp of Doeg, 
As it were any slave's ; the while we all 
Are lepered with suspicion. 

ADRIEL 

Of the king ? 
ISHUI 

Ah ! and of Jonathan and Michal. 

ADRIEL 

Hush. 

Rnter Michal passing with Miriam. 
Michal, delay. Whom lead you ? 
MICHAL 

Miriam, 

[71 



[Adah goes.^ 



DAVID 

A prophetess. 

ADRIEL 

How of the king to-night ? 

MICHAL 

He's not at rest ; dreads Samuel's prophecy 

The throne shall pass from him, and darkens more 

Against this boundless Philistine Goliath 

Who dares at Israel daily on the hills. 

As we were dogs ! 

ADRIEL 

Is David with him ? 

MICHAL 

No; 

But he is sent for — and will ease him — Ah! 
He's wonderful to heal the king with his harp ! 
A waft, a sunny leap of melody, 
And swift the hovering mad shadow's gone — 
As magic ! 

ISHUI 

Michal Curst! 

MICHAL 

What anger's this ? 

ISHUI 

Disdaining Doeg and his plea to dust. 

His waiting and the winning-o'er of Edom, 

You are enamoured of this David too ? 

MICHAL 

I think my brother Ishui hath a fever. 
[S^e goes — calmly y with Miriam?^ 

ISHUI 

Now are you kindled — are you quivering, 

[8] 



DAVID 

Or must this shepherd put upon us more? 
ADRIEL 

But has he not dealt honorably ? 
ISHUI 

No. 
ADRIEL 

Why do you urge it? 
ISHUI 

Why have senses. He 
With Samuel the prophet fast enshrouds 
Some secret, and has Samuel not told 
The kingdom from my father shall be rent 
And fall unto another ? 
ADRIEL 

You are certain ? 
ISHUI 

As granite. 

[Voices are heard in altercation.^ 
Yonder ! 
ADRIEL 

The king ? 
ISHUI 

And Samuel 
With prophecy or some refusal tears him ! 

[They step aside. Saml followed by Samuel strides 
in and mounts the throne.^ 
SAUL 

You threat, and ever thunder threatening ! 
Pour seething prophesy into my veins. 
Till a simoon of madness in me moves. 

[9] 



DAVID 

Am I not king, the king ? chosen and sealed ? 

Who've been anathema and have been bane 

Unto the foes of Israel, and filled 

The earth vi'ith death of them ? 

And do you still forbid that I bear gold 

And bribe away this Philistine array 

Folded about us, fettering w^ith flame ? 
SAMUEL 

Yes, — yes ! While there is air, and awe of Heaven 

Do I forbid ! A champion must rise 

To level this Goliath. Thus may we 

Loose on them pest of panic and of fear. 
SAUL 

Are forty days not dead ? A champion ! 

None will arise — 'tis vain. And I'll not wait 

On miracle. 
SAMUEL 

Offer thy daughter then, 

Michal, thy fairest, to whoever shall. 
SAUL 

Demand and drain for more ! without an end. 

Ever vexation ! No ; I will not. 
SAMUEL 

Then, 

Out of Jehovah and a vast foreseen 

I tell thee again, thou perilous proud king, 

The sceptre shall slip from thee to another! 
[He moves to go?^ 
SAUL 

The sceptre .... 

[lo] 



DAVID 

SAMUEL 

To another ! 
SAUL 

From me ! No ! 
You rouse afar the billowing of ill. 
I grant — go not ! — I grovel to your will. 
Fear it and fawn as to omnipotence, 

^Snatching at Samuel's mantle^ 
And vow to all its divination — all ! 
SAMUEL 

Then, Saul of Israel, the hour is near. 
When shall arise one, and Goliath fall ! 

[Samuel goes slowly out, Saul sinks back^ 
ISHUI 

Oh, — subtle ! 
SAUL 

Thus he sways me. 
ISHUI 

Subtle ! — subtle ! 

And yet I must not speak ; come, Adriel, 
No use of us here. 

\Iie makes as if to go\ 
SAUL 

Use .? subtle .? Stand ! 
ISHUI 

No, father, no. 

SAUL 

What mean you? 
ISHUI 

Do not ask. . . . 
Yet how it creeps, and how ! 

[■•1 



DAVID 

SAUL 

Unveil your words. 
ISHUI 

Do you not see it crawl, this serpent scheme ? 
Goliath slain — the people mad with praise, 

Then fallen from you — Michal the victor's wife 

SAUL 

Say on ; say on. 
ISHUI 

Or else the champion slain — 
Fear on the people — panic — the kingdom's ruin! 
SAUL 

Now do the folds slip from me. 
ISHUI 

And you see ? 
Ah then, if one arise ? If one arise ? 
SAUL 

Death, death ! If he hath touched this prophet — if 
Merely a little moment! — 
ISHUI 

I have seen 
Your David with him. 
SAUL 

Death! if — Come here : David ? 

ISHUI 

In secret. 
SAUL 



ISHUI 



Say you? 

Yes, 

[12] 



DAVID 

SAUL 

The folds slip further ; 
To this you lead me — hatred against David ! 
To this with supple envy's easy glide ! 
ISHUI 

I have but told — 
SAUL 

You have but builded lies. 
As ever you are building and forever. 
I'll hear no more against him — Abner — No. 

[To Abner, w/io enters.^ 
David, and with his harp. 
ABNER 

My lord — 

SAUL 

Not come ? 

He is not come ? And never ! but delays. 

ABNER 

Time's yet to pass. 

SAUL 

There is not — Am I king? 

\A harp is heard.] 
See you, 'tis he! 'Tis David, and he sings ! 
DAVID [Bravely, within] 

Smiter of hosts. 
Terrible Saul ! 
Vile on the hills shall he laugh who boasts 
None is among 
Great Israel's all 
Fearless for Saul, king Saul ! 

[■3] 



DAVID 

[Entering with people of the palace\ 
Aye, is there none 
Galled of the sting, 
Will at the soul of Goliath run ? 
Wring it and up 
To his false gods fling ? . . . 
None for the king, the king ? 
VHe drops to his knee, amid praise, before the throne?^ 
SAUL [Darkening] 

Forego this praise and stand 
Away from him; 'tis overmuch. 

[To David] Why have 

You dallied and delayed ? 
DAVID 

My lord, delayed ? 

SAUL 

Do not smile wonder, mocking ! 
DAVID 

Why, my lord, 
I do not mock. Only the birds have wings. 
Yet on the vales behind me I have left 
Haste and a swirling wonderment of air. 
And in the torrent's troubled vein amaze. 
So swift I hurried hither at your urgence 
Out of the fields and folding the far sheep ! 
SAUL 

You have not ; you have dallied. 

[He motions. All go but David, whom he 
comes down toward, indeterminately .] 

You have dallied. 

[>4] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Deep in the king I see a darkness foam 

And sheeted passion, as a lightning gust. 

Shall I not play to him ? 
SAUL 

You shall not, no. 
\^S lowly draws a dagger ^^ 

V\\ not be lulled. 
DAVID 

Is it a tiger gleam, 

Terrible fury stealing from the heart 

And crouching cold within the eye of Saul ? 
SAUL 

I'll not endure. They say that you — 
DAVID 

They say ? 

What is this ravage in you. Does the truth 

So limpid overflow in palaces ? 

Never an enemy to venom it ? 

Am I not David, faithful, and thy friend ? 
SAUL 

I'll slay you, and regretless. 
DAVID \Unmovmg] 

Slay, my lord ? 
SAUL 

Do you not fear ? and brave me to my breast ! 
DAVID 

Have I done wrong that I should fear the king? 

Reed as I am, could he not breathe and break? 

And I should be oblivion at a word ! 



DAVID 

But under the terror of his might have I 
Not seen his heart beat justice and beat love ? 
See, even now . . . . ! 

SAUL 

I will not listen to them ! 
DAVID 

To whom, my lord, and what ? 

SAUL 

Ever they say, 

" This David," and " this David !" 

DAVID 

Ah, my harp ! 
SAUL 

But think you, David, I shall lose the kingdom ? 
DAVID [Starting] 

My lord . . . . ! 
SAUL 

Pain in your eyes ? you think it ? Deem 

I cannot overleap this destiny ? 
DAVID 

To that let us not verge ; it has but ill. 

Deeper the future gulf is for our fears. 

Forget it. Forget the brink may ever gape. 

And wield the throne so well that God himself 

Must not unking you, more than he would cry 

The morning star from Heaven ! Then, I swear it. 

None else will ! 

SAUL 

Swear ? 

DAVID 

Nay, nay ! 

[.6] 



DAVID 

SAUL 

You swear ? 

DAVID 

But words, 

Foolishly from the heart ; a shepherd speech ! 

Give them no mood ; but see, see yonder fires 

Camping upon the peace of Israel, 

As we were carrion beneath the sun ! 

Let us conceive annihilation on them. 

Hurricane rush and deluging and ruin. 
SAUL 

Ah, but the prophecy ! the prophecy ! 

It eats in me the food of rest and ease. 

And David, nearer : Samuel in my stead 

Another hath anointed. 
DAVID 

Saul, not this ! 

This should not fall to me, my lord ; no more ! 

You cannot understand; it pains beyond 

All duty and enduring! 
SAUL 

Pains beyond . . . . ? 

Who is he ? know you of him ? do you ? know you ? 

You sup the confidence of Samuel ? 

I'll search from Nile to Nineveh — 
DAVID 

My lord! 

SAUL 

Mountain and desert, wilderness and sea. 
Under and over, search — and find. 

['7] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Peace, peace ! 

Enter Michal joyously. 

MICHAL 

O father, father ! David ! Listen !— Why, 
All here is dark and quivering as pain. 
And a foreboding binds me ere I breathe ! 
David, you have not been as sun to him ! 

DAVID 

But Michal will be now. 

SAUL 

Child, well, what then ? 

MICHAL 

Father, a secret ! Oh, and it will make 

Dawn and delight in you ! 

SAUL 

Perhaps; then, well? 

MICHAL 

Oh, I have heard. . . . ! 

SAUL 

Have heard ? — Why do you pale ? 

\^She stands unaccountably moved.^ 

Now are you Baal-bit ? 

DAVID 

Michal ! 

MICHAL [In terror.] 

David ! . . . the dread. 
What does it mean ? I cannot speak ! It shrinks 
Shivering down upon my heart in awe ! 

DAVID 

So piteous are you ? suddenly so numb ? 

[i8] 



DAVID 

And you are faint ? let it rush from your lips ! 
Can any moving in the world so bring 
Terror upon you ! Speak, what is it ? 

MICHAL 

Ah! 

I know not ; danger rising and its wing 
Sudden against my lips ! 

DAVID 

To warn ? 

MICHAL 

It shall not! 

There — now again flows joy ; I think it flows. 
SAUL 

Then — you have heard . . . ? 

MICHAL 

Yes, father, yes I Have you 

Not much desired discovery of whom 

Samuel hath anointed ? 

SAUL 

Well? 
MICHAL 

I've found 

[David blenches?^ 

Almost have found ! A prophetess to-day 

Hath told me that he is a — 

[ She stops in realizing horror.'\ 

SAUL 

Now you cease ? 

Sudden and senseless ! 
MICHAL 

David ?-^No ! 

[19] 



DAVID 

SAUL 

God ! God ! 
Have I not bidden swiftly ! Ever then 
Vexation ! I could — No. Will she not speak ! 

MICHAL 

I cannot. 

SAUL 

Cannot ! Are you flesh of me ! 
DAVID 

My lord, not anger ! Hear me . . . 

SAUL 

Cannot ? 
DAVID 

Hear! 

Her lips could never seal upon a wrong. 

Sudden divinity is on them, silence 

Sent for the benison of Israel, 

Else were it shattered by her love to you ! 

Believe ! in all the riven realm of duty 

There's no obedience from thee she would hold. 

If it seem other — 

Enter Abner hurriedly. 

ABNER 

Pardon, O king. At once ! 

SAUL 

I will not. Do you come with vexing too ? 
ABNER 

The Philistines — some fury is afoot. 

A spy within our gates — and scorns to speak. 
SAUL 

Conspiracy of silence ! . . . Back to him. 

[Abner goesi\ 

[20] 



DAVID 

[To David and Michal.] But you — I'll not forget. 

I'll not forget. 

[Saul goes.'\ 

DAVID 

Forget ! anointing ! peril ! what are they all ! 
Michal ? — for me you have done this, for me ? 

[Slfe stands immovable.^ 
I am swung with joy, as palms of Abila ! 

[Goes to herl\ 

A princess, you, and the veins of you live warm 

With sympathy and love unto your father. 

Yet you have shielded me ? 
MICHAL 

You are the anointed? 
DAVID 

I am — oh do not flint your loveliness ! — 

I am the anointed, but all innocent 

In will or hope of any envious wrong • 

As lily blowing of blasphemy ! as dew 

Upon it is of enmity ! 

MICHAL 

Anointed ! 

You whom the king uplifted from the fields ! 

DAVID 

And who am ever faithful to him ! 

MICHAL 

You, 

Whom Jonathan loves more than women love ! 
DAVID 

Yet reaches not my love to Jonathan ! 

[21] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

You — you ! 

DAVID 

But, hear me ! 

MICHAL 

You, of all ! 

DAVID 

O hear ! 

Of my anointing Jonathan is 'ware. 

Knows it is holy, helpless, innocent 

As dawn or a drift of dreaming in the night ! 

Knows it unsought — out of the skies — supernal — 

From the inspired cruse of Samuel ! 

For Israel it dripped upon me, and 

For Israel must drip until I die ! 

Or till high Gath and Askalon are blown 

Dust on the wind, and all Philistia 

Lie peopleless and still under the stars ! — 

Goliath, then, a laughter evermore ! . . . 

Still, still you shrink ! do you not see, not feel ? 

MICHAL 

So have you breathed yourself about my heart. 

Even as moon-lit incense, spirit flame 

Burning away all barrier ! 

DAVID 

But see! 

MICHAL 

And all the world has streamed a rapture in. 
Till even now my lids from anger falter 
And the dew falls ! 

[22J 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Restrain ! O do not weep ! 
Upon my heart each tear were as a sea 
Flooding it from all duty but the course 
Of thy delight ! 
MICHAL 

Poor, that 1 should have tears ! 
Fury were better, tempest ! O weak eyes. 
When 'tis my father, and with Samuel 
You creep to steal his kingdom ! 
DAVID 

Michal ! . . . God ! 
MICHAL 

Yes, steal it ! 
DAVID 

Cruel ! fell accusal ! Yes, 
Utterly false and full of wounding ! 

[Strugglingy then with control.^ Yet, 
Forgive that even when thy arrows drive 
Deeper than all the skill of time can draw, 

I spare thee not the furrowed face of pain 

Delirious wings of hope that fluttered up. 
At last to fall ! 

[Moves to go.'^ 



MICHAL 

DAVID 

MICHAL 



David! 

Farewell ! 
You must not ! 

[23] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Peace to you — peace and joy ! 

MICHAL 

You must not go ! 

[He turns. She sways, then reaches out her 
arms. As irresistibly they move toward each 
other. Do EG and Merab appear through 
the curtains. Michal utters a low cry. 
They vanish. \ 
MICHAL 

[In numb affrighi\ Merab and Doeg ! 

DAVID 

Yet what matter, now ! 

Were it the driven night-unshrouded dead ! 
Under the firmament is but one need, 
That you will understand ! 

MICHAL 

But Merab! ah. 

She's cunning, cold and cruel, and she loves thee ; 

Hath told her love to Ahinoam the queen! 

And Doeg hates thee — since for me he's mad! 
DAVID 

Be it, his hate, as wild, as wide as winds 

That gather up the desert for their blast. 

Be it as Sheol deep, stronger than stars 

That fling fate on us, and I care not, care not. 

If I am trusted and to Michal truth ! 

Hear, hear me ! for the kingdom, tho 't may come, 

I yearn not, but for you ! 
MICHAL 

No, no I 



DAVID 

DAVID 

For you ! 

Since I a shepherd o'er a wild of hills 

First beheld you the daughter of the king 

Amid his servants, leaning, still with noon. 

Beautiful under a tamarisk, until 

All beauty else is dead — 
MICHAL 

Ah cease ! 
DAVID 

Since then, 

I have been wonder ecstasy and dream ! 

The molded light and fragrant miracle. 

Body of you and soul, lifted me till 

When you departed — 

MICHAL 

No, you rend me ! 
DAVID 

I 

Fell thro' infinity of void ! 
MICHAL 

No more ! 
DAVID 

Then came the prophet Samuel with anointing ! 

My hope sprung as the sun ! 
MICHAL 

I must not hear ! 
DAVID 

Then was I called to play before the king. 
Here in this hall where cherubim shine out. 
Where the night silence — 

[25] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

David ! 
DAVID 

Strung me tense, 
I waited, shepherd-timid, and you came. 
You for the king to try my skill ! you, you ! 

MICHAL 

Leave me, ah leave ! I yield ! 

DAVID 

And often since 
Have we not swayed and swept thro' happy hours. 
Far from the birth unto the bourne of bliss ? 

MICHAL 
And I— 

DAVID 

To-night you did not to the king 
Reveal my helpless chrism, give me to peril. 
Say but the reason ! 

MICHAL 

David ! 
DAVID 

Speak, O speak ! 
MICHAL 

And shall I, shall I ? how this prophetess 
Miriam hath foretold — 
DAVID 

Some wonder ? speak ! 
MICHAL [Springing up the throne?^ Hath told I shall 

be queen of Israel ! 

[26] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Michal, the queen ? the queen ! We two are then 

Yoked of eternity unto this end ! 
MICHAL [Shrinking downl\ No, no ! horror in me 
moans out against it ! 

Wed me with destiny against my father ? 

Dethrone my mother ? Ah ! 

DAVID 

Not that — no wron? ! 
MICHAL 

Then swear conspiracy upon its tide 

Never shall lift you ! 

DAVID 

Deeper than soul or sea, 

Deep as divinity is deep, I swear. 

If it shall come, the kingdom — 
MICHAL 

"If! " not "if" 

Surrender this anointing ! Spurn it, say 

You never will be king though Israel 

Kingless go mad for it ! 
DAVID 

I cannot. 
MICHAL 

Guile ! 
DAVID 

I cannot — and I must not. It is holy ! 
MICHAL 

Then must I hate you — scorn you — 

DAVID 

Michal ! 

[27] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

And will. 

But to reign over Israel you care. 
Not for the peace of it 1 

DAVID 

Thus all is vain ; 

A seething on the lips, Til say no more . . . 

Care but to reign and not for Israel's calm ? 

I who am wounded with her every wound ? . . . 

Look out upon yon Philistine bold fires 

Lapping the night with bloody tongue — look out ! 

[A commotion is heard within.^ 
As God has swung the world and hung forever 
The infinite in awe, to-morrow night 
Not one of them shall burn ! 

MICHAL 

You pall me! 

DAVID 

None ! 

MICHAL 

What is this strength! It seizes on me ! No, 
ril not believe, no, no, more than I would 
From a boy's breath or the mere sling you wear 
A multitude should flee ! And you shall learn 
A daughter to a father may be true 
Tho paleness be her doom until she die ! 

\She turns to go. Enter Jonathan eagerly^l 

JONATHAN 

David ! 

[28] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

My friend — my Jonathan ! 'Tis you ? 

[T/iey embrace, Michal goes^ 
JONATHAN 

Great heart, I've heard how yesterday before 
The soldiers you . . . But Michal gone ? No word ? 
DAVID 

The anointing. 
JONATHAN 

Ah, she knows? 
DAVID 

All. 

JONATHAN 

And disdains 
Believing? tell me. 
DAVID 

No, not now — not now. 

Let me forget it in a leap of deeds. 

Vthe commotion sounds again.^ 
And all this murmur misty of distress. 
What is it? sprung of the Philistines? new terror? 
This sounding giant flings again his foam? 
Jonathan, I am flame that will not wait. 
What is it? I must strike. 
JONATHAN 

David .... 

DAVID 

Tell me. 

And do not bring dissuasion more, or pause. 
JONATHAN 

The king comes here. 

[29] 



DAVID 



DAVID 



Now ? 



With a spy who keeps 



Then is peril up ! 



JONATHAN 

Fiercely to silence. 
DAVID 

Jonathan — ! 
JONATHAN 

David, you must cool from this. 

Determination surges you o'erfar. 

I will not see you rush on perishing. 

Not though it be the aid of Israel. 
DAVID 

I must. . . .1 will not let them ever throng. 

Staining the hills, and starving us from peace. 

Rather the last ray living in me, rather 

Death and the desecration of the worm. 

Bid me not back with love, nor plea ; I must ! 
JONATHAN 

But think — 
DAVID 



I must. 



JONATHAN 

DAVID 

JONATHAN 

The madness of it ! 
DAVID 



*Twere futile 

Hear ; the king 1 



No, and see ; they come. 
[3°] 



DAVID 

JONATHAN 

Strangely my father is unstrung. 

DAVID 

They come. 
Enter Saul with Samuel; Soldiers with the 
spy ; Ahinoam with Abner ; and all the 
court in suppressed dread. 
SAUL 

\To Samuel] He will not speak, but scorns me, 

and his lips 
Bitterly curve and grapple. But he shall 
Learn there is torture to it ! Set him forth. 

S^the spy is thrust forward.^ 
Tighten his bonds up till he moan. 
[// is done.^ 

Aye, gasp. 
Accursed Philistine ! Now wilt thou tell 
The plan and passion of thy people 'gainst us ? 
SPY 

Baal! 
SAUL 

Tighten the torture more Now will you? 

SPY [In agony.] 

Yea! 
SAUL 

On, then, reveal. 
SPY 

New forces have arrived. 
Numberless ; more than peaks of Arabah. 
[General movement of U7ieasiness.] 

[31] 



DAVID 

Unless before to-morrow's moon one's sent 

To overthrow Goliath — Gods ! the pain ! 

SAUL 

Well ?— Well ? 

SPY 

Then Gibeah attacked, and all 

Even to sucking babes be put to sword ! 
[yf movement of horror^ 
AHINOAM 

All Gibeah ! 
A WOMAN 

My little ones? No, no! 
\She rushes frantically out.^ 
SAMUEL 

Then, Saul of Gibeah, one thing and one 
Alone is to be done. A champion, 
To break this beetling giant down to death ! 
SAUL 

There is none. 
SAMUEL 

Is none ! Call ! I order it. 
SAUL 

Then who will dare against him ! 
[^ silence A 

See you now. 
SAMUEL 

You, Abner, will not ? 
ABNER 

It were death and vain. 
SAMUEL 

Doeg, chief servant of the king? 

[32] 



DAVID 

DOEG 

Why me? 

Had I a mother out of Israel ? 

I am an alien, an Edomite. 
DAVID 

My lord, this is no more endurable ! 

Futile and death ? Alien ? Edomite ? 

Has not this Philistine before the gates 

With insult and illimitable breath 

Vaunting of vanity and smiting laughter 

Boasted and braved and threatened up to Baal ? 

And now unless one slay him, Israel 

From babe to age must bleed and be no more ! 

I am a shepherd, have but seized the lion 

And throttled the bleating kid out of his throat ; 

Little it then beseems that I thrust in 

Where battle captains pale and falter off; 

But this is past all carp of rank or station. 

One must go out — Goliath must have end. 
DOEG 

Ah, ah ! and you will ! 
ISHUI 

You ? 
JONATHAN 

No, David ! 
SAUL 

Tou? 
DAVID 

Sudden you hound about me ravenous ? 

Have I thrown doom not daring to your feet, 

[33] 



DAVID 

Ruler of Israel, that you rise wild. 
Livid above me as an avalanche ? 
DOEG 

A plot ! it is a plot ! He will be slain — ■ 
From you, my lord, dominion then will fall ! 
Or should it not . . . 

SAMUEL 

Liar ; it is no plot. 
But courage sprung seraphic out of night. 
Beautiful and a bravery from God ! 
MICHAL [Behind the throng.] 

Open, and let me enter ! Open ! 

She enters. 

Father, 
It is not false ? but now, the uttermost ? 
To-morrow, if Goliath still exult. 
There's peril of desolation, bloody ruin ? 
SAMUEL 

I answer for him ; 

MICHAL 

Then to your will. 
Father, unto will of yesterday 
I bend me now with sacrificial joy. 
Unto Goliath's slayer is the hand 
Of Michal, the king's daughter ! 

DAVID [Joyously] 

Michal ! Michal ! 
DOEG 

See, see, my lord ! Do you not understand ? 
ISHUI 

It is another coiling of their plot ! 

[34] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

Coiling of plot ? What mean you ? 
MERAB 

Ah ? You know 
Not it is David offers against Goliath ? 
MICHAL 

David ? [^Shrinking] David ? 

\A low tumult is heard without. 
Enter a Captain hurriedly A 
CAPTAIN 

O King, bid me to speak ! 
SAUL 

Then speak ! 
CAPTAIN 

Fear is upon the host. There will 
Be mutiny unless, Goliath slain. 
Courage spring up anew. 

DAVID 

My lord, then, choose! 

Ere longer waiting fester to disaster. 

SAMUEL 

Yea, king of Gibeah, and bid him go. 
And Michal for his meed! or evermore 
Evil be on you and the sear of shame — 
And haunting memory beyond the tomb ! 

SAUL 

Then let him — let him. And upon the field 
Of Ephes-Dammin. But I am not blind ! 

[To Abner] 
Let him, to morrow! Go, prepare the host. 

[35] 



DAVID 

Yet — I am king, remember ! I am king ! 

[Saul goes; there is a murmur of relief. All 
except yiiCYi.A'L follow J with various expres- 
sions of joy or hate toward David.] 
DAVID 

Michal ! 

\She looks at him ; struggles against tears, and 
turning y goes. David stands gazing sadly 
after her. Then a trumpet sounds , and sol- 
diers shouting exultantly without, throng to 
the porch.^ 
DAVID [Thrilled; his hand on his sling\ 

For Israel ! For Israel ! 
VRe goes, toward the soldiers^ 

[curtain.] 



I36I 



ACT II 



DAVID 

ACT II 

SCENE : The royal tent of Saul pitched on one hill of the battle-field 
of Ephes-Dammin. The tent is of black embroidered with va- 
rious warlike designs. To one side on a dais are the chairs of 
SAUL and AHINOAM ; also DAVID'S harp. On the 
other sidcy toward the front y is a table with wine and wine-cups. 
The tent wall is lifted along the back, revealing on the oppo- 
site hilly across a deep narrow valley, the routed camp of the 
Philistines : before it in gleaming brazen armor lies GOLIATH 
slain. Other hills beyond, and the sky above. By the wine 
table, her back to the battle-field, sits MERAB in cold anger. 
AHINOAM and several women look out in ecstasy toward 
DAVID, SAUL, JONATHAN and the army, returning 
victorious and shouting. 

FIRST WOMAN 

See, see, at last ! 
SECOND WOMAN 



THIRD WOMAN 



They come! 



An avalanche. 
Over the brook and bright amid hosannas ! 

[39l 



DAVID 

SECOND WOMAN 

And now amid the rushes ! 
FIRST WOMAN 

And the servants ! 
Goliath's head high-borne upon a charger ! 
The rocks that cry reverberant and vast ! 
The people and the palms ! 
THIRD WOMAN 

Yea all the branches 
Torn from the trees ! The waving of them — O ! 
SECOND WOMAN 

And David, see! triumphant, calm, between 
The king and Jonathan ! . . . His glory- 
All the wild generations of the wind 
Ever shall utter ! Hear them — 

[The tumult ascends afar] David ! David ! 
A sea of shouting ! — 

O queen! 

AHINOAM 

You yearn for it ? 
Then go and lave you in this tide of joy. 

VT/ie wotnen go rapturously . A h i n o a M turns ^ 
MERAB 

Mother ! 
AHINOAM 



MERAB 
AHINOAM 



My daughter ? 



Well? 

They all are gone. 



[40] 



DAVID 

MERAB 

And Michal, where ? 

AHINOAM 

I do not know, my child. 

MERAB 

Why did my father pledge her to him ! you 

Not hindering! 

AHINOAM 

She is your sister. You 

Are pledged to Adriel. 

MERAB 

And as a slave ! 

And if I do not love him there is — riches ! 

If he is Sodom-bitter to me — riches ! 

AHINOAM 

But for the kingdom. 

MERAB 

For my torture! What 

Kingdom is to a woman as her love ! 

AHINOAM 

And David still enthralls you ? 

MERAB 

Though he never 

Sought me with any murmur or desire ! 

Though he is Michal's for Goliath's death ! 

Michal's to-day, unless — 

AHINOAM 

Merab, a care! 

Too near in you were ever love and hate, 

\ne tumult mars. Ahinoam goes to look out\. 
DoEG enters to Merab 

[41J 



DAVID 

DOEG [low] 

News, Merab ! 
MERAB 

Well—? 

DOEG 

A triumph o'er him, yet ! 
The king is worn, as a leopard pent, between 
Wonder of David and quick jealousy 
Because of praise this whelming of Goliath 
Wakes in the people. 
MERAB 

Then ? the triumph? 

DOEG 

This. 
\T/ie tumult y nearer.] 
I've skilfully disposed the women 
To coldly sing of Saul, but of our David 
With lavish of ecstasy as to a king. 
[He watches her^ 
MERAB 

Then / will praise him 
DOEG 

David? you? 
MERAB 

As he 
Was never — and shalt never be again, — 
DOEG 

But— 
MERAB 

Give me the phial. 

[42] 



DAVID 

DOEG 

The poison ? 

MERAB 

Come ; At once ! 

DOEG 

What will you do? 

MERAB 

At once with it ! 
[He hands it to her. She dips the point of her dag- 
ger in //.] 

DOEG 

To stab him 

MERAB 

As any fool ? Wait. — And the rest now, quick. 
This timbrel-player, Judith ? 

DOEG 

She is ready 
And ravishing ! 

MERAB 

Well, well ; then — ? 

DOEG 

We will send her 
Sudden, as Michal is alone with David, 
To seize him with insinuative kisses. 
And arms that wind as they were wonted to him. 
Michal once jealous — and already I 
Have sowed suspicions — 

MERAB 

Will—? yes—? 

[ 43 1 



DAVID 

DOEG 

On him burst [laughs] 
And as a fury. 
MERAB May it be their rending! 

[The tumult, near.'\ 
Come, we must see. 

[T/iey go to look out. Shouts of " David I ** 
" David !" arise , and a band of timbrel-play- 
ers, dancing and singing, followed by a band 
of priests bearing the ark with its cherubim of 
gold, pass the tent opening. David, Saul, 
Jonathan, Ishui and the Court then enter 
amid acclamations ; before them servants, bear- 
ing the head of Goliath on a charger under 
a napkin. Saul darkly mounts the throne 
with Ahinoam, to waving of palms and to 
praise?^ 
A WOMAN [breaking from the throng. '\ 

Our little ones are saved ! hosannah ! joy ! 
[She kisses David's hand.] 
JONATHAN 

Woman, thy tongue should know an angel-word. 
Or seraph-syllables new-sung to God ! 
Earth has not any rapture well for this ! 
David, my brother ! 
DAVID 

Jonathan, my friend ! 
While life has any love, know mine for you. 
JONATHAN 

Then am I friended as no man was ever ! 

[44] 



DAVID 

And though my soul were morning wide it were 
Helpless to hold my wonder and delight ! 
O people, look upon him ! 
THE PEOPLE 



David ! David ! 



JONATHAN 

Never before in Israel rose beauty 
Up to this glory ! 

DAVID 

Jonathan, nay — 

JONATHAN 



Never ! 



{Loosing his robe and girdle l\ 

Therefore I pour him splendor passionate. 

In gold and purple, this my own, I clothe him. 

David, my brother ! 
SAUL [Angered.^ 

Brother ! 
AHINOAM 



Saul? 



SAUL 

JONATHAN 

Father ? 
AHINOAM 

SAUL 



Thou fool ! 



My lord 



Thou full-of-lauding fool ! 
Of breath and ravishment unceasing ! 
AHINOAM 

Saul ! 

[45] 



DAVID 

SAUL 

Is it not praise enough, has he not reached 

The skies on it ! 
DAVID 

O king, my lord — 

SAUL 

Had Saul 

Ever so rich a rapture from his son ? 

Ever this worshipping of utterance ? 
DAVID 

My lord, my lord, this should not fret you. 
DOEG [Derisively.] 



Nay! 



DAVID 

'Tis only that the soul of Jonathan, 
Brimmed by the Philistines with bitterness. 
Sudden is joy and overfloweth — 

DOEG 

Fast— 

DAVID 

Upon his friend, thy servant, David. 

DOEG 

Aie! 

[He turns away laughing^ 
SAUL 

Why do you laugh ? 
DOEG 

" Thy servant David ! ** 

SAUL 

Why! 

[46] 



DAVID 

A WOMAN \Without:\ 

King Saul has slain his thousands ! 

"Why," my lord? 
THE WOMAN 

But David his ten thousands ! 
DOEG 

Do you hear ? 
King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten ! 
Thy servant is he ? servant ? 
DAVID {ro Saul.] 

Shall thy sceptre 
Be wielded by this venom-word, as is 
A weed under the wind ? 
SAUL 

'Tis overmuch ! 
I'll burst all bond of priest or prophecy. 
Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear. 

\He seizes a javelin?^ 
I'll smite where'er I will. 
DAVID 

No! 
JONATHAN 

Father ! 
DAVID 

Shall 
A rapid palsy now come on thy hand. 
Awful and sceptre-ruined lord of men? 
An impotence, a shriveling to fear. 
Avenging ere thou shed offenceless blood ? 
[Saul's hand drops.^ 

1 47] 



DAVID 

is this thy love, the love of Saul the king ? 
Who once was kindlier than kindest are. 
For but a woman's wantonness of word 
And idle air, my life ? 

AHINOAM 

Saul, Saul — ! 
JONATHAN 

The shame ! 
DAVID 

Some enemy — does Doeg curve his lip? — 
Hath put into her mouth this stratagem 
Of fevered false-impassioned overpraise. 

[Saul, silent^ rises slowly and goes, entreated of 
Jonathan. Many follow in doubt , whis- 
pering.^ 
DOEG {To David.] 

This is not all, boy out of Bethlehem. 
Goliath's dead — 

DAVID 

But not all villainy ? 
[Doeg goeSy flushings — and all follow y except 
MicHAL, and Merab, who moves cunningly 
forward as if incensed^ 
MERAB 

I burn for it! 

DAVID 

For what, and suddenly ? 

MERAB 

My father so ungenerously wroth ! 

And wrought away from recompense so right ; 

Can you forgive him? 

[48 1 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Merab ? . . . 

MERAB 

Is it strange 
That even / now ask it ? 

DAVID 

Merab's self? 
MERAB 

Herself and not to-day your friend ; but now 

Conquered to exaltation and aglow 

To wreathe you for this might to Israel, 

Beautiful, unbelievable and bright ! 

Noble the dawn of it within your dream. 

Noble the lightning of it in your arm, 

And noble in your veins the fearless flow 

And dare of blood ! — so noble that I ask 

As a remembrance and bequest forever. 

In priceless covenant of peace between us, 

A drop of it — 

\^S^e draws her dagger and offers it to him.^ 

Upon this sacred blade. 
DAVID 

Such kindness, in all honor ? 

MERAB 

Poor requital 
To one whose greatness humbles me from hate. 

DAVID 

Then of my veins whatever drop you will. 
Were it the very dwelling of my soul. 

[49 J 



DAVID 

[He takes the dagger and makes as if to prick 
himself .\ 
Ah, but you do not mock me ? 
MERAB 

Rather upon 
Its edge one vein of you — than priceless nard. 
DAVID 

And perfume out of India jewel poured? 

\lie searches her eyes.'\ 
Or than — I may believe ? — a miracle 
Of dew, were you a traveller and lost 
Upon the illimitable desert's thirst? 
Or than — 

\lle draws his own dagger ^ pricks his wrist with 
it, and hands it to her^ 
than this? 
MERAB 

Shepherd ! 



Under a sham of tribute, poison ? 
MICHAL 



Treachery, then r 



Poison ? 



DAVID 

And I of vanity should prick it in ? 
I a mere shepherd innocent of wile ! 
A singer music-maudled and no more. 

[As she goeSy stung with chagrin.^ 
The daughter of king Saul has yet to learn. 

[From looking after her , he turns toward M.icnAL, 
and, sighing, slowly approaches her.^ 

[50] 



DAVID 

The vaunting of this victory is done. 

We are alone at last. 
MICHAL 

Yes. 
DAVID 

That is all ? 

For Israel I've wrought to-day, for you 

Who were about me, in me, as a mist 

Of armed mighty angels triumphing. 
MICHAL 

Yes ? It was well. 
DAVID 

To you no more? to you 

Whom not a slave can serve unhonored ? 
MICHAL [Struggling.] 

Nothing. 
DAVID 

Empty of glow then seems it, impotent, 

A shrivelled hallowing. . . . 

Ashes of ecstasy that burned in vain. 
MICHAL 

No, no ! I — 
DAVID 

Michal ? 
MICHAL 

No, divine it was! 

And had I cried my praise the ground had broke 

To Eden under me with blossoming. 

Where was so wonderful a deed as this. 

So fair a springing of salvation up ! 



DAVID 

Glory above star-soaring could I sieze. 
Auras of dawn and loveliness unfading, 
To crown you with and crown ! 

DAVID 

O lips ! 

MICHAL 

With but 

A sling, a shepherd's sling, you sped the brook. 

Drew from its bed a stone, and up the hill 

Where the great Philistine contemning cried. 

Mounted and flung it deep upon his brain ! 

DAVID 

This is the victory and not his death ! 

Tell, tell thy joy with kisses on my lips ! 

Thy mouth ! thy arms ! thy breast ! 

MICHAL 

No no ! 

DAVID 

Thy soul ! 

Too much of waiting and of severance ! 

Of dread and distance and the deep of doubt. 

Now must I fold you, falter all my love 

And triumph on your senses till they burn 

Beautiful to eternity with bliss. 
MICHAL 

Loose, loose me ! 
DAVID 

Nay, again ! immortal kisses ! 

MICHAL 

A frenzy, 'tis a frenzy ! From me ! see ! 

[52] 



DAVID 

This irremediable victory 

Over Goliath severs us the more. 

[T/ie tumult breaks again ^ ajar A 

Hear how the people lift you limitless! 

Almost, to-day, and in my father's room 

They would that you were king. 
DAVID 

But ere to-morrow 

Dim shall I be, and ere the harvest bend 

Less than a gleam in their forgotten peril ! 
MICHAL 

O were it, were it ! But all silently 

Jehovah fast is beckoning the realm 

Into thy hands. 
DAVID 

Then futile to resist 

The gliding on of firm divinity. 

And yet whatever may be shall be done. 
MICHAL 

All, all ? 
DAVID 

That for thee reverently may. 
MICHEL 

The anointing, then — 
DAVID 

Of that ! ... not that ! 
MICHAL 

Yet grant 

It may be told my father; that I may 

Say to him all the secret ! 

1 53] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

And provoke 

Murder in him, insatiable though 

I fled upon the wilderness and famine ? 

MICHAL 

He would not ! 

DAVID 

Nay. 

MICHAL 

I'll plead with him. 

DAVID 

In vain ! 

MICHAL 

Then [co/ti/y] it is as I thought. 

DAVID 

You are distraught. 

MICHAL 

This stroke to-day \pointing to Goliath's head] 
no love of me had in it. 
DAVID 

A love, a passion fervid thro' me as 
The tread and tremble of immortal song 
Along the infinite. 

MICHAL 

You use me ! 
DAVID 

Use? 

MICHAL 

A step to rise and riot in ambition ! 
DAVID 

So bitter are you , blind ? 

[54] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

It was a trick ! 
You snared me to you. 

DAVID 

Michal ! 

MICHAL 

Cunningly 

With Samuel netted fears about my father 

Till I am paltrily unto you pledged. 

DAVID 

Enough. 

MICHAL 

Too much. 

DAVID 

No more ; the pledge I fling 

Out of my heart, as 'twere enchantment dead. 

And free you ; but, no more. 

[He moves from her.\ 

MICHAL 

As if it were 

Enchantment dead. Ah, then 'tis true — there is 

Another — is another ! 

DAVID 

Now what fever ? 

A gentleness clad once your every grace. 
MICHAL 

There is some other that you lure and love. 
DAVID 

It is not Michal speaking ; so I wait. 
MICHAL 

Then — 

[55J 



DAVID 

[Judith glides suddenly in with a low laugh and 
kneels before David. Michal stands a?nazed. ] 
JUDITH \^As if with amorous admiration.^ 

Brave, it was brave, my love ! beauteous ! brave ! 
DAVID 

Woman ? 
JUDITH 

The Philistine, a brazen tower, 
A bastion of strength fell to the earth ! 
DAVID 

Woman, who are you ? 

^She clasps and kisses him.^ 

Take away your flesh. 
[Fr^^"] Take it away, the heat and myrrh of it. 
JUDITH 

So cold ? 
DAVID 

Away. 
JUDITH 

And 'tis no longer fair ? 
[Wantonfy'\ Oh ! Ah ! I understand ! the princess ? — 
DAVID 

Go. 
[Judith oheys, laughing and shaking her timbrel^ 
MICHAL 

A dancer then, a very timbrel player ! 
DAVID 

Until this hour I never looked upon her. 
It is chicanery of chance or craft. 
You who are noble, though in doubt adrift. 
Be noble now ! 

[56] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

And loving ? O, I will — 
Now that I know what should be done. Be sure. 
DAVID 

You mean, that Saul ? — you would not, no ! 
MICHAL 

Rest sure. 
[A hand is seen at the tent. Ah i no am enter s?\^ 
AHINOAM 

David, the king — But what is this } 

[Michel goes.'\ 
DAVID 

O queen — 
It is but life. 
AHINOAM 

Nay. 
DAVID Life that ever strings 

Our hearts, so pitifully prone for it. 
To ecstasy — then snaps. 
AHINOAM 

I love thee, David. 
DAVID 

Then gracious be, and question here no more. 
Where words are futile for an utterance. 
But of the king — the king ? 
AHINOAM 

He's driven still. 
And hither comes, and soon, and must be calmed. 
Thy harp take, winds of beauty from it bring, 
And consolation — as of valley-eves 



DAVID 

When there is ebb of sorrow and of toil, 
O could you heal him and forever heal. 
DAVID 

Then would I be — ! 

[He breaks off with a gesture of great desire^ 
takes the harp and seats himself^ 
AHINOAM 

At once, for he will come. 
[David begins; a strain of wild sadness, Saul 
enters and with him Doeg, Ishui, Jona- 
than — others. He pauses, his hand to his 
broWy and goes slowly , enspelled o/' David's 
playing, up the dais.^ 
AHINOAM 

My lord, shall David sing — to ease us ? 
SAUL 

Let him. 
DAVID 

[With high sorrow.^ 

O heart of woe, 
Heart of unrest and broken as a reed ! 
[Plays,] 

O heart whose flow 
Is anguish and all the bitterness of need ! 
[Plays.] 

O heart as a roe, 
Heart as a hind upon the mountain fleeing 

The arrow-wounds of being, 
Be still, O heart, and rest and do not bleed ! 
[Plays longer with bowed head.] 

[58] 



DAVID 

O days of life, 
Days that are driven swift and wild from the womb ! 
[P/ays.] 

O days so rife — 
Days that are torn of trouble, trod of doom ! 
[P/ays.] 

MiCHAL enters. 
O days of strife. 
Days of desire on deserts spread unending. 

The burning blue o'erbending, 
O days, our peace, our victory is the tomb ! 
[He plays to a close that dies in anguished s Hence. '\ 
SAUL [Rising in tears] 

David ! 
DAVID 

My lord? 
SAUL 

Thy breathing ! beauteous ! 

Stilling to sorrow ! O my friend, my son ! 
DAVID 

To me is this ? I dream it not ? The king 

Again is kind and soft his spirit moves ? 
SAUL 

To you I 
DAVID 

How shelter o*er me then will spring 
And safety covering ! 
SAUL 

It ever shall. 
Loveliest have you been among my days, 

[59] 



DAVID 

And singing weary madness from my brain. 

[David starts toward him.'\ 

How I have wronged thee ! 

MICHAL 

Wronged him? [In fury :\ 

DAVID 

Michal ! 

SAUL 

Girl? 

MICHAL 

You have not wronged him I 

DAVID 

Michal ! 

MICHAL 

No, but he 

Is jeopardy and fate about you ! drive 
Him from you utterly and now away ! 
[Murmurs of astonishment. '\ 

SAUL 

What mean you ? 

ISHUI 



Speak. 

SAUL 

What mean you ? 




MICHAL 

This ! 




DAVID 


No word ! 


MICHAL 

I'll not be kept — 





[60 J 



DAVID 

DAVID 

But shall be; for to tell 
Would rend silence forever from you — pale 
Your flesh with haunting of it evermore ! 
All, all your being would become a hiss. 
A memory of syllables that sear, 
A living iteration of remorse. 
I — I myself will save your lips the words 
Of this betrayal leaping from your heart. 

[Nobly y before Sau/.] 
You seek, my lord, you seek whom Samuel 
Anointed. 



SAUL 

DAVID 

SAUL 

'Tis- 
DAVID 

SAUL 

DAVID 



Yes. 

Then know that it is I. 



I. 



You! 



I. And guiltless I, no other. 
I, though I sought it not and sufl^er, though 
I would it had not come and fast am sworn 
Never against you to lift up — 
MERAB 

Hear, hear ! 
Now he will cozen ! 

[6,] 



DAVID 

DOEG 

He, "thy servant!" 
ISHUI 

Hear! 
A VOICE [Without.] 

A thousand Saul hath slain ! But David ten ! 
SAUL [Choking:] 

Omnipotence shall not withhold me more. 
[He lifts a javelin.] 
DAVID 

Murderous king afoam with murder-heat! 

[He avoids from side to side.] 
Monarch of misery — of might — of rage 
So fell that lightning were not dread enough 
Were it thy bolt 1 To-day you will destroy me ? 

[Goliath's head overturned, rolls on thefoor.] 
Upon this day will slay me innocent ? 
SAUL 

Die, die! 
JONATHAN 

No, father, hold ! 
[Saul flings the javelin.] 
MICHAL [Reeling.] 

What have I done ? 

JONATHAN 

David, unhurt ? Away, the wilderness. 
[Thrusts a sword on him.] 
SAUL 

He shall not! no. 

[Seizes another javelin.] 

[62] 



DAVID 

DAVID {Aflame?^ 

Then, king of Israel, strike ! 
Strike me to darkness and the waiting: worm ! 
Into the Pit and to the hopeless gloom. 
But, after, be your every breathing blood. 
Remorse and riving bitterness and fear. 
Be guilt and all the hideous choke of horror ! 

Saul trembling at the curse lets the javelin fall 
from his hand. David breaking through 
DoEG and Ishui escapes by the door, Michal 
sinks to her knees y her face buried in her hands ?^ 

Curtain. 



[63J 



ACT III 



ACT III. 

SCENE : A savage mountain-cliff in the wilderness of Engeddi. 
On either side gray crags rise rugged^ sinking away precipi- 
tously across the back. Cut into each is a cave. The height 
is reached by clefts from all sides. 

Between the crags to the East is the far blue of the Dead Sea; 
and still beyond, bathed in the waning afternoon, stretch the 
purple shores of Moab. During the act the scene grows crim- 
son with sunset and a thunder-cloud rises over the sea. 
Lying on a pallet of skins near the cliff's verge, DAVID tosses 
feverishly. Three of his followers and a lad, who serves him, 
are gathered toward the front, ragged, hungry, and hunted, in 
altercation over a barley-cake. 
DAVID 

Water ! the fever fills me, and I thirst. 
Water ! 
FIRST FOLLOWER 

Listen. 
SECOND FOLLOWER 

He calls. 
DAVID 

Water ! I thirst. 
THE LAD 

Yes, yes, my lord. Shakes up a water-skin^ Ah, empty, not 

a quaff! 
They've drunk it all from him ! My lord, none's left. 

[67] 



DAVID 

I'll run and in the valley brim it soon. 
[He goes. David sinks back.^ 
SECOND FOLLOWER [To First.] Tou drank it then. 
FIRST FOLLOWER 

And should I thirst, not he ? 
Give me the bread. 
SECOND FOLLOWER 

If it would strangle you. 
FIRST FOLLOWER 

I'll have it. 
SECOND FOLLOWER 

Or betray him ? spitingly ? 
It is the last. Already you have eat. 
And we are here within a wilderness. 
FIRST FOLLOWER 

Be it, but I'll not starve. 
THIRD FOLLOWER 

He utters right. 
Why should we but to follow a mere shepherd 
Famish and o'er a hundred desert hills ? 
The prophecy portending him the throne — 
Folly, not fate ! though it is Samuel's. 
I'll trust in it no more. 
FIRST FOLLOWER 

Nor I. 
THIRD FOLLOWER 

And Saul 
Has driven us from waste to waste — pressed us 
Even unto the Philistines for shelter. 
And now unto this crag. And is not David's 

[68] 



DAVID 

Thought but of Michal, not of smiting him 
And, with a- host, of leaping to the kingdom? 
[David stirs to riseA 
FIRST FOLLOWER 
He moves ; peace ! 
THIRD FOLLOWER 

Let him. 
SECOND FOLLOWER 

Peace. 
THIRD FOLLOWER 

And fawning too ? 
DAVID [Sufermgfy] Men — men, we must have news. 
Perpetual, 
Implacable they stare unto each other. 
This rock and stony sky. 

[Rises and comes down to them.\ We must have news. 
\They are silent^ 
Longer is death. 'Tis overmany days 
Of sighing and remembered verdancy ; 
Nor any dew or upward odor comes. 
Who will go now and bring us word of Saul ? 
THIRD FOLLOWER 

Have not Abishai, Abiathar, 
And others gone ? 
DAVID 

Bravely. 
THIRD FOLLOWER 

And none returned ! 
DAVID 

Not one of all. 

[69] 



DAVID 

THIRD FOLLOWER 

Well, then, we are not swine. 
And life's but once. 
DAVID 

So ? 

THIRD FOLLOWER 

We will follow you 
No longer hungered and rewarded never, 
But perilously ever. 
DAVID 

It is well. 
[He looses a bracelet from his arm.^ 
This was a gift from Saul. In it is ease. 

[Gives it to Third Follower, who goes^ 
This ring was Jonathan's. The jewel tells 
Still of the sunny haven of his heart. 
Upon my hand he pressed it — the day we leapt 
Deeper than friends °nto each other's love. 

[Gives it to First Follower, iioho goes^ 

This chain 

SECOND FOLLOWER 

I want it not. 
DAVID 

You have not thought ; 
'Tis riches — such as Sidon marts and Tyre 
Would covet. 
SECOND FOLLOWER 

I care not. 
DAVID 

None else is left. 

[70] 



DAVID 

SECOND FOLLOWER 

No matter. 

DAVID 

Then ? 

SECOND FOLLOWER 

There was of Gibeah 
A woman — dear to me. Her face at night 
Weeping among my dreams. . . . 

The prophecy 
Is unfulfilled, and vain ! 

DAVID 

And you would go ? 
SECOND FOLLOWER 

The suffering — this cliff. 

DAVID 

I understand. 
[Motions.^ So, without any blame, and to content. 

[T/ie Second Follower Ja/ters, then goes A 
[^ietfy.^ A desolation left, of rock and air. 
Of barren sea and bitterness as vast. 
Thou hast bereft me, Saul ! thou hast bereft ! 

[He moves up the cliffy gazes sadly away, then kneels by a 
stone, as to pray?^ 
My flesh cries for oblivion — to sink 
Unwaking away into the Night . . . where is 
No tears, but only tides of sleep. . . . 

No, crieth 
Not for Oblivion and Night, but for 
Rage and revenge ! Saul ! Saul ! . . . My spirit, peace. 

[71] 



DAVID 

As pants the heart for the water-brook, so I ! 

[He bows his head. Michal in rags that disguise, enters 
with the Lad, unseen?\ 
Her lips it was that hurled me unto this ! 
Yet, yet not violence on him and blood ! 
I must revenge's call within me quell. 
Though righteously it quivers and aflame. 
\He goes slowly into the cave, Right.^ 
MICHAL 

This is the place, then, this ? 

LAD 

Yes, princess. 

MICHAL 

Here 

So long in want and sickness he hath hid ? 
Under the livid day and lonelier night ! 

LAD 

I brought him water, often. 

MICHAL 

Little lad ! 

But he has heard no word from me — not how 
My father, Saul, frantic of my repentance. 
Had unto Phalti, a new lord, betrothed me ? 
How then I fled to win unto these wilds ? 

LAD 

He heard not anything — only the tales 
I told of Moab, my own land. 
[David plays within.^ 

But oh ! 
It is his harp. 

[72] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

And strains that weep o'er me ! . . . 
I'll speak to him ... and yet must be unknown ! 
A leper ? as a leper could I . . . ? 
LAD 

Why 
Must he not know you ? 
MICHAL 

Ask me not, lad, now; 
But go a little. 
LAD 

Yes. 
[He sets down the water-skin and goes. '\ 
MICHAL [Delaying, then in a loud voice.] Unclean ! Unclean ! 

[Conceals her face in her hair.] 
DAVID 

Who crieth here ? 
MICHAL 

Unclean ! 
DAVID [Appearing.] Who cries unclean ? 

Poor leper in these wilds, who art thou ? 
MICHAL 

One 

Outcast and faint, forlorn ! 
DAVID 

Then you have come 
To one more bitter outcast than yourself. 
One who has less than this lone void to give. 
This sterile solitude and sun, this scene 
Of leaden desolation that makes mad. 

[73] 



DAVID 

Who has no ease but cave or shading rock, 
Or the still moon, or stars that glide the night. 

One over whom 

MICHAL 

Yet, pity ! 
DAVID 

The pale hours 
Flow dead into eternity. 
MICHAL 

Ah, yet .... ! 
DAVID 

My cloak, then, for thy tattered limbs. Or, no — 
This chain of Ophir for thy every need. 
Once was it dear, but should be so no more. 
\Flinging it to her.^ Have it, and with it vanish 
memory 

Out of my breast 

MICHAL 

No, no. 
DAVID 

And from me fall 
Link upon link her loveliness that bound. 
MICHAL 

Oh, do not ! 
DAVID 

Woman . . . ? 
MICHAL 

Nothing. A chain like this 
I once beheld wind undulantly bright 
O'er Michal, the king's daughter. 

[74] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 
Pity! 

DAVID 

MICHAL 

DAVID 



DAVID 

Woman, the king's ? 



Who are you ? 

Stay ! Unclean ! 
A spy ? 



A spy of Saul and hypocrite have crept 

Hither to learn . . . ? 
MICHAL 

Have heed — unclean ! 
DAVID 

How then 
Wandering come you here ? 
MICHAL 

Unclean ! Unclean ! 
DAVID 

My brain is overfull of fever, mad. 
Almost and I had touched thy peril, held 
Thy hideous contagion. 
MICHAL 

Wrong ! 
DAVID 

Then who 
Art thou to know and speak of her, of Michal .? 
MICHAL 

One who has served the king. 

[75] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

And you have seen 

Michal, you have beheld her ? 

MICHAL 

Once, when she 

In face w^as fairer and in heart than now 

They say she is. 

DAVID 

And heard her speak ? 

MICHAL 

A night 
Under the leaves of Gibeah — when she 
Sang with another — David. 

DAVID 

Say no more. 

MICHAL 

And from afar, under the moon, blew faint 
The treading of the wine-presses with song. 
David she loved, but anger-torn betrayed. 
Unworthy of him. 

DAVID 

Speak of her no more, 
Nor of her cruelty, unless to pray 
He she has ruined may forget her. 

MICHAL 

Yet 

If deep she should repent ? 

DAVID 

Leper, no more. 

[ 76 ] 



DAVID 

[A moment ; then a jackal's cry shrills to them. David 
starts A 
The signal. [He listens. '\ 

Thrice repeated ? Word at last ? 
\To MiCHAL.] He who is near may prove to thee less kind. 

[She goes. He springs to look down the cliff?^ 
Abishai ? Abiathar ? It is ! 
But staggering and wounded ? breathless ? torn ? 

[He watches, then turns to meet them. They enter — Abi- 
athar with bloody ephod and broken breastplate — 
and sink in panting exhaustion A 
Abishai, what is it that you bring ? 
Abiathar, up ! answer ! 
ABIATHAR 

Water ! 
DAVID 

Up! 
[He brings the water-skin. They drain it fiercely. '\ 
What is it now so fevered from you stares 
And breathing too abhorrence ? Gasp it out. 
ABIATHAR 

I stifle — in a universe — he still — 
Has breath in. 
DAVID 

Saul? 
ABIATHAR 

I'll scathe him ! Scorpions 
Of terror and remorse sting in his soul ! 
DAVID 

If you have tidings, not in words so wild. 

[77] 



DAVID 

ABIATHAR 

Then ask and hate shall calm me. 
DAVID 

Ask? 
ABIATHAR 

On, on ! 
Seek if he lives ! 
DAVID 

Who? 
ABIATHAR 

Seek if prophecy 
Founts yet in Judah ! 
DAVID 

Samuel . . . ? 
ABIATHAR 

Is dead ! . . . 
Dead — and of tidings more calamitous. 
[A pause. '\ 
DAVID [Hoarsefy.] 

Tell on. I hear. 
ABIATHAR 

Saul gloating to believe 
The priests, assembled sacredly at Nob, 

Plotted assisting you, hath had them 

DAVID 

No . . .! 
ABIATHAR 

Slain at the hands of Doeg — murdered, all ! 
DAVID 

But he — your father ? 

[78] 



DAVID 

ABIATHAR 

Was among them ; fell. 
\He stands motionless^ 
DAVID {Gently?^ 

Abiathar, my friend ! . . . Appeaseless Saul ! 
ABIATHAR 

Hear all, hear all ! Thy father, too, and mother. 

Even thy kindred, out of Israel 

Are driven into Moab ; and this king, 

Delirious still for blood as desert pard, 

With Merab, whelp of him, and many armed. 

Is near us now — aquiver at Engeddi 

For your destruction : 

[David struggles for control A 

And yet you will not strike. 
DAVID 

[L<?'Z£^.] No, but of Michal, tell me good at once. 
Lest unendurable this lot, I may — 
and mount o'er every oath into revenge. 
ABIATHAR 

Ha— Michal ! 
DAVID 

She withholds her father's wrath ? 
ABIATHAR 

She's well. 
DAVID 

Not if you say no more. 
ABIATHAR 

I know 
Nothing of her. 

[79] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Your look belies. 
ABIATHAR 

Perhaps : 

As did her love. 
DAVID 

That is for me. 
ABIATHAR 

Well, what ? 
A woman who betrays ? 
DAVID 

Speak, not evade ; 
And judge her when earth has no mystery. 
ABIATHAR 

Then from your craving put her — wide ; she is 
Unworthy any tremor of your veins. 
DAVID 

Dawn-lilies under dew are then unworthy. 
And nesting doves are horrible to heaven. 
I will not so believe. Your reason . . . ! 
ABIATHAR 

Saul 
Has given her — and she will wed him, aye — 
To Phalti, a new lord. 
DAVID 

Untrue of her ! 
ABIATHAR 

Cry. Yet you will believe it. 
DAVID 

Not until 

[80] 



DAVID 

The verdant parable of spring is hushed 
Ever of bloom, to prove it. Never till 
Hermon is swung into the sea ! until 

The last void of the everlasting sky 

[^Looking up he falters, breaks off, and is strangely moved at 
something beheld^ 
ABIATHAR 

What, what alarm ? 
ABISHAI 

What stare you on ? 
ABIATHAR 

He's mad ? 
[David points. They look up.^ 
ABIATHAR 

An eaglet ! . . . 
ABISHAI 

Eaglet ? 
ABIATHAR 

Pierct ! 
ABISHAI 

Pierct? . . . 
DAVID 

Falling here. 
And beating against death unbuoyantly. 

\The birdy an arrow through it, drops in throes at their 
feet.] 
A destiny, a fate in this is hidden ! 

\He bends over it, then quickly back.] 
ABIATHAR 

A destiny, how, how ? 

[8.] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

The arrow ! — His ! 
His, and no other's. Quick, then, no delay. 
ABIATHAR 

Be clear, clearer. 
DAVID 

We are discovered — near 
On us is death. Open the secret chamber 
Within the cave, for from the bow of Saul 
Is yonder bleeding — from no other. 
ABIATHAR 

Saul's ? 
But how, was any here? 
DAVID 

To-day, to-day. 
A leper wandering. 
ABIATHAR 

We are betrayed. 
[Abishai with the water-skin hastens into the cave, Right. 
David and Abiathar stand listening. Noise of 
approach is heard.^ 
DAVID 

They near. 
ABIATHAR 



DAVID 

Inexorable ! 
ABIATHAR 



And many. 

King of Israel ! 

O, rebuke him, do ! 

[82] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Almost I am beyond this tolerance. 

ABIATHAR 

In truth. Therefore it is you rise and shake 

Out of his power the sceptre ! 

DAVID 

Tempt me not ! 

Mercy and memory almost are dead, 
And craving birth in me is fateful ire. 

\T hey follow into the cave. Hardly have they done so when 
at a shouty Saul, bloodthirsty ^ with Doeg, Abner, 
IsHUi, and soldiers ^ pour in from all sides, with drawn 
weapons^ 
SAUL 

On, to him ! search the caves ! In, in, and bring 
Him to my sword, and Michal with him. 
\Pacing terrible the while.^ They 
Shall couch upon eternity and dust. 
[JVeakly.] I am the king, and Israel is mine . . . 
I'll sleep upon their grave — I'll sleep upon it. 
And hear the worm . . . ! 

[To a Soldier re-entering from one cave.^ Where is he? 
Bring him. 
SOLDIER 

O King 

SAUL 

You've slain him and you tremble ! Say it. 

SOLDIER 

No. 
SAUL 

Then hither with him ; hither ! 

[83] 



DAVID 

SOLDIER 

He's not here. 

SAUL 

A treachery ! You cunningly contrive 
To aid him, so . . . 

[To a Soldier re-entering fearfully from the other caveJ^ 
Bring me his head. 
SOLDIER 

My lord. 
He is not there. 
SAUL 

I tell you it is lies — 
Because you deem that he shall be the king 
And treasure up reward and amnesty. 

[Into one cave, then another he rushes, then out among them 
furious.^ 
From me, ill-fruited ineffectual herd ! 
Away from me, he's fled and none of you 
Is servant and will find and for me seize him ! 
From me — I'll sleep — I'll rest — and then — 

[All begin to crowd out, overawed, but Doeg jW Abner.] 

I'll sleep. 
[Slowly he moves into the cave. Left, and lies down.l^ 
ABNER 

[To Doeg, significantly.] The evil spirit. 
DOEG 

Yes ; is on him swift 
As never before, and as a drunkenness. 
ABNER 

Then, safe to leave him ? 

[84] 



DAVID 

DOEG 

Will he brook denial ? 
ABNER 

And Merab, too, will soon be here. 

DOEG 

Well, come. 
ABNER 

I'll go and look upon him. 

[Goes to Saul's cave and returns^ 

Already he sleeps. 
[Turning they encounter Michal entering y still disguised. 
She quails.^ 
Woman, who are you, who ? 

MICHAL 

Unclean ! away ! 
DOEG 

Unclean ? a leper ? in this place ? Are there 

No stones to stone you ? Hence ! And had I not 

A brother such as thou 

MICHAL 

Pity ! Unclean ! 
[She goes quickly ; then they. A space. Then she returns 
trembling, fearful.^ 
I'll call him ! I will save him ! — David ! David ! — 
I his discomfiture and ruin ! — David ! 
David ! hear me ! David ! 

[Searching, she approaches the cave where Saul lies, but 
recoils terrified^ 

The king ! my father ! 

[8s] 



DAVID 

I cannot — am not — whither shall I, whither ? 

\Confused she JJees^ as scuffling is heardy and Abishai and 
Abiathar, struggling with David, appear.^ 
DAVID 

Loose me, I say. 'Twas Michal and she called. 
[Breaking free. ^ I say that it was she ! 

ABIATHAR 

Foolhardy, no. 
Return into the cave, and ere too late ! 
Merab, veiled^ enters behind them. 
DAVID 

'Twas Michal and no other. 
ABIATHAR 

You are duped. 
DAVID 

The breathing of archangels could not so 
Have swung the burden from me as her call. 

[Searchingy he faces — and beholds Merab. His look 
grows to coldness ^ 
MERAB 

It is not Michal. 

DAVID 

No — it is not Michal. 
[He motions Abiathar and K^ishai aside.^ 
MERAB 

Yet it is one who 

DAVID 

Need not lift her veil 
Or longer stay. The path she came is open. 

[86] 



DAVID 

MERAB 

rm here — and here will speak ! I've hither stolen, 
Yearning — I say it — yearning — and I will. 

DAVID 

These words I do not know. 
MERAB 

Because you will not. 
More all-devouring than a Moloch is 
This love within me 

DAVID 

Love and you are twain. 
As sun and Sheol. 

MERAB 

False. I am become 
For want of you as famine-wind, a wave 
In the mid-tempest, with no rest, no shore. 

DAVID 

I do not hear the unashamed words 
Of one who has but recently another, 
Adriel, wedded. 

MERAB 

You refuse me then ? 
DAVID 

I beg you but to cease. 

MERAB 

Goaded, chagrined ? 
No, but this will I do. The Philistines, 
For long at rioting within their walls. 
Gather again and break toward Gilboa. . . . 

[87] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

This is not true. 
MERAB 

To-morrow must my father 
From hunting you return and arm for battle. 
But — many would that you were king. 

DAVID 

Were? . . . 

MERAB 

King! 

DAVID 

I do not understand your eyes. 
MERAB 

I will 
For love of you arouse rebellion up. 
Murmur about the host your heaven-call. 
And lift you to the kingdom. 
DAVID 

To the — stay ! 

Your words again. 
MERAB 

The kingdom. 

DAVID 

Awful God ! 

MERAB 

What is your mien ? you will not ? 
DAVID 

Twice the words — 

Full from her lips — and to betray her father. 
[Abiathar discovers Saul.] 

[ 88 1 



DAVID 

MERAB 

You will not ? answer ! 

DAVID 

Odious utterly ! 

As yonder sea of death and bitter salt, 

As foam-girt Joppa of idolatry. 

As Memphian fane of all abhorrencies ! 

Morning would move with horror of it, noon 

A livid sepulchre of shame span o'er. 

And night shrink to remember day had been ! 

MERAB 

You scorn — you scorn me ? 

DAVID 

Jonathan ! your sister ! 

MERAB 

Then Saul shall rend you dead. And Jonathan ! . . . 

[S/ie laughs shrilly ^^ 
Perchance you have not heard that Jonathan 
Knows to the Philistines you fled — and loathes you ! 
DAVID 

I have not heard. 

MERAB 

Nor have not, ah ? how Michal 

Is given to the embraces of another ? 

[David shrinks ^^ 
You desperately breathe and pale at last ? 

\She laughs more bitterly ^^ 
To me for aid, to me, you yet shall come. 

yShe goes. David slowly lifts his hand to his- brow in 
heavy pain. Abiathar — and soon Abishai — abrupt- 
ly descends from the cave to him.^ 

1 89] 



DAVID 

ABIATHAR 

David 

DAVID 

Leave me. 

ABIATHAR 

Not till you know — and strike ! 
DAVID 

I tell you go. 

ABIATHAR 

I tell you 'tis the king. 

DAVID 

Who breaks forbearance — yes. 

ABIATHAR 

Who lieth yonder. 

And sleeping lieth — for a thrust to end. 
DAVID 

[His sword quickly outy struggling.^ 
This throb and wounds that wring me ! and this wail 
Under the deeps of me against his wrongs, 
Awakening remembrance that with burst 
And burn of pain. . . . O, never-ceasing ill ! 
[Flings the sword down^ anguished.^ 
ABIATHAR 

You will not come ? 
DAVID 

The sun is set. 
ABIATHAR 

Has Saul 

Hunted you to this desert's verge ? 

DAVID 

Enough ! 

[90] 



DAVID 

ABIATHAR 

Has he pursued you, all his hate unleashed ? 
Is Samuel not slain ? the priests ? my father ? 
The kingdom is not in decay, and falls ? 
You are not prophecy's anointed one ? 
Seize up the sword and strike — or I myself! 
DAVID 

Or . . . you yourself . . . ? 

[^Silently he puts them aside, takes up the sword, and slowly 
goes into Saul's cave.^ 
ABISHAI 

What will he do ? Listen ! 
Mi c HAL enters unseen. 
ABIATHAR 

If Saul cries out. . . . 
ABISHAI 

Be ready. . . . 
MICHAL 

[To them.'] What is this ! 

[David, haggard, with drawn sword and a piece i?/' Saul's 
cloak in his hand, re-enters from the cave. He sees 
MiCHAL, pauses, and gazes upon her, as she on hitn, 
with rising emotion^ 
MICHAL 

[Inarticulate. Then.] Ah, you have slain — 

Have slain him ! Wretch ! thou wretch ! 
And sleeping as he was ! 
DAVID 

Then it was you ? 
In lying rags ? 

[91] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

Have struck him in his sleep ! 
And merciless ! — And now will kill me, too ? 

DAVID 

In faithless rags ? You are the leper ? Who 

[Growing frenzied^ 
Drove me a prey unto this wilderness ! 
Upon the blot of it and death and sear ! 
The silence, burning, and relentless swoon ! 
You are the leper, who have broken troth 
And shut the cry of justice from your breast ! 
Who've stifled me with desolation's woe. 
Who've followed still and still have me betrayed ! 

MICHAL 

Betrayed ? No, loose me ! 

DAVID 

Slain thy father ? slain ? 
[Flinging the piece of Saul's cloak at her feet ^ 
See how I might — see, see you, yonder he lies 
A king who quits the kingdom, though a cloud 
Of Philistines is foaming toward Gilboa ; 
Jeoparded leaves it, undefended, for 
Pursuit of me and pitiless harrying ! 
A king who murders priests. . . . 

MICHAL 

Priests ? 

DAVID 

Stifles God 
With penitence that he has shaped the world ! 

[92] 



DAVID 

Have slain ? have slain him ! I have slain him ! Ah ! 
Ah, that I had thy falseness and could slay him ! 
MICHAL 

David ! . . . 
DAVID 

Nevermore near me ! never v^^ith 
That quivering and tenderness of lure. 
Those eyes that hold infinity of fate, 
That breathing cassia-sweet, but sorcery ! 
MICHAL 

Oh. . . . 
DAVID 

Never thy presence pouring beauty, swift, 
And seething in the brain as frantic wine ! 
I'll be no more enspelled of thee — never ! 
I will not hear thee and be wound by words 
Into thy wile as wide as Ashtoreth's, 
Back into hope, eternity of pain ! 

[In agony he goes, Abiathar and Abishai after. 
MiCHAL stands gazing te arks sly before her, as Saul, 
awakened, slowly comes from the mouth of the cave down 
toward her.^ 

CURTAIN. 



[93l 



ACT IV 



ACT IV. 

SCENE: The House of MIRIAM, the " Witch of Endor;' by 

Mount Gilboa — where Saul is encamped against the Philistines. 
It is of one story, built rectangularly about an inner court, 
which is dimly lighted. 

Under the gallery which ranges around the court are doors 
leading to the sleeping and other apartments ; before one of 
these, a lattice. On the left is the gate opening to the street. 
In the back to one side, the teraphim, or image of divination ; 
on the other side a stairway mounts to the roof. Above is the 
night, and vague lightning amid a moan of wind. During 
the act comes dawn. 

Forward on a divan sits MIRIAM alone, in blind restless- 
ness. 

MIRIAM 

Adah! 

The child is sunken in a sleep. 
Yet would I have her near me in this night, 
And hear again the boding of her tale. 
Unto the blind the vision and the awe 
Of the invisible sway ever in, 
The shadow of nativities that lead 
Upon fatality. 

Girl ! Adah ! girl ! 
[The wind passes. Adah enters from a chamber, rubbing 
her eyes.^ 
Thou art awake ? 

[97] 



DAVID 

ADAH 

I slumbered. 
MIRIAM 

Stand you where 
Fathoming I may feel within you. Now, 
Again — you've hither fled your mistress Merab, 
In fear of her ? 
ADAH 

Yes. 
MIRIAM 

At Engeddi Michal 
By Saul was apprehended ? Merab now 
Plotteth against her — she and Doeg ? 
ADAH 

Still. 
MIRIAM 

And 'twas in Merab's tent you heard, the king 
Despairing of to-morrow's battle, comes 
Hither to-night to bid me lift the spirit 
Of Samuel out of the dead and learn 
The issue ? 
ADAH 

Doeg said it. 
MIRIAM 

And — you hear ? — 
Many within the army urge for David, 
Would cry him king, if Saul were slain ? 
ADAH 

O many. 
[A knock at the gate. They start up f earful. '\ 

[98] 



DAVID 

MIRIAM 

Who seeks blind Miriam of Endor's roof. 
Under the night and unextinguished storm ? 
Come you a friend ? 
DAVID 

[fFit/iout.] A friend. 
MIRIAM 

As knows my soul ! 
[Breathless she opens the gate. David and Abiathar 
enter cloaked.^ 
Thy voice again ! — this blindness of my eyes — 
If it be David, speak. 
DAVID 

Yes, Miriam. 
MIRIAM 

David of Jesse, Israel's desire ! 

Let me behold thee [Her hands go over him.^ with my 

fingers' sight. 
And gather in them touch of thee again ! 
Thy voice is as dream-dulcimers that stir 
Quivering myrrh of memory and joy — 
But, aie ! why are you here ? You have been there ? 
DAVID 

Yes — in the camp of Saul. 
MIRIAM 

In spite of death ! 

Do you not know ? 

DAVID 

I know — that Saul would rather 
O'ertrample me than a multitude of foes. 

[99] 



L.t- 



DAVID 

That it is told him I who shun his ire-— 

Though death were easier, if dutiful — 

Am come up with the Philistines to win 

The kingdom. That he would slay me though I fought 

For Israel !— But, Michal ! 

MIRIAM 

Aie 

DAVID 

What brews ? 
She was not in the camp. 

MIRIAM 

Men all are mad ! 
And you who should be never. 

DAVID 

She is in 
Some peril. 

MIRIAM 

You, in more ! And must from here 
Swiftly away, for Saul is 

DAVID 

I must see her. 
MIRIAM 

Unholy ! 
DAVID 

Yet unholier were flight. 
MIRIAM 

You are the anointed ! 

[A heavy knock at the gate.^ Ah, calamity ! 
You would not heed — 'tis Saul ! 

[lOO] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Here ? 
MIRIAM 

He is come 
That I shall call up Samuel. 
DAVID 

You, you — 
The awful dead ? 
SAUL 

[Ctf//f.] Woman of Endor ! 
MIRIAM 

Hide! 
The lattice yonder ! 
SAUL 

Woman of Endor ! woman ! 
[David and Abiathar conceal themselves behind the lat- 
tice. The knockingy hastier.^ 
Woman of Endor ! Woman of Endor ! Woman ! 
MIRIAM 

Who crieth at my gate ? 
SAUL 

Unbar and learn. 
MIRIAM 

To danger ? 
SAUL 

None. 
MIRIAM 

To thieves ? 
SAUL 

To rueing if 

[10. ] 



DAVID 

You tarry ! 

[S/ie opens the gate. Adah cowers down. Saul, Ishui, 
and Adriel enter ?^ 
MIRIAM 

Whom seek you ? 
SAUL 

Witch of Endor, you. 
Who of the fate-revealing dead divine. 
Out of the Pit you call them ! 
MIRIAM 

What is this ? 
SAUL 

I say that you can lift them ! 
MIRIAM 

You are come 
With snaring! knowing well that Saul the king 
Is woe and bitterness to all who move 
With incantation. 
SAUL 

He is not. 
MIRIAM 

Depart ! 
SAUL 

I must have up out of the Awfulness 
Him I would question. 
MIRIAM 

Perilous ! 
SAUL 

Prepare 
Before thy teraphim. No harm, I swear, 

[ I02 ] 



DAVID 

Shall come of it. Bid Samuel appear. 
The battle ! its event ! 
MIRIAM 

[With a cry.'\ I know thee now ! 
Saul ! thou art Saul ! the Terror ! 
SAUL 

Call him up. 
Ready is it, the battle — but I am 
Forsaken of all prophecy and dream. 
Of voices and of priest and oracle. 
To augur it. 
MIRIAM 

A doom in this ! 
SAUL 

He must 
Hold comfort, and the torrent of despair 
Within me stay and hush. 
MIRIAM 

Then must it be. 
[Turning towards the teraphim amid wind and pallid light- 
ning, and prostrating herself before //.] 
Prophet of Israel, who art beyond 
The troubling and the terrifying grave, 
Th' immeasurable moan and melancholy 
Of ways that win to Sheol — Rise ! Arise ! 

\She waits. Only the gust. Then springing up and 
stretching wide her arms with wild, blind eyes^ 
Prophet of Israel, arise ! Not in 
The name of Baal, Amon, Ashtoreth, 
Dagon or all the deities that dream 

[ 103 1 



DAVID 

In trembling temples of Idolatry, 

But of Jehovah ! of Jehovah ! rise ! 

[An elemental cry is heard. Then 'vast wavering fortns 
rise out of the earthy in continuous stream. Miriam, 
with a long curdling shriek, sinks moaning to her knees.^ 

SAUL 

Woman, I cannot — dare not — look upon it. 
Utter thy sight. 

[The spirit of Samuel begins to take shape through the 
phantoms.^ 

MIRIAM 

I saw ascending 
Forms as of gods in swaying ghostliness. 
Dim apparitions of a dismal might, 
And now is one within a mantle clad. 
Who looketh 

SAUL 

Samuel ! 

MIRIAM 

Who looketh with 
Omniscience in his mien, and all the chill 
And cling about him of eternity. 
His eyes impale me ! 

SAUL 

Spirit, give me word ! 
[He falls heavily to the ground. '\ 

SAMUEL 

[As afar.'] O evil king ! and wretched king ! why hast 
Thou brought me from the quietness and rest. 

[ 104] 



DAVID 

SAUL 

The battle on the morrow ! 

SAMUEL 

Evil thou art 

For underneath this night thou hast conspired 

Death to thy daughter Michal — if at dawn 

The battle shall be lost — lest she may fall 

Into the hands of David 

DAVID 

[In horror. '\ O ! 

ISHUI 

Whose cry ? 
SAMUEL 

I tell thee, Saul, thy sceptre shrivels fast. 
The battle shall be lost — it shall be lost. 

\The spirit of Samuel disappears. A wail of wtnd\ 
ADRIEL 

Ishui, true ? Is Michal to be slain ? 
ISHUI 

This is no hour for fools and questioning. 
SAUL 

[Struggling up.] The battle, Ishui, at once command 
It shall begin ! To Jonathan and say it. 

[IsHui goes.'\ 
No prophecy shall sink me and no shade. 
I am the king, and Israel, my own. 
[Frenzied he goes. A silence^ 
DAVID 

[Breaking forth ^ Michal to die and Israel to fall! 
Prophet of prophets, Samuel, return ! 

[■05] 



DAVID 

[Adriel goes.'\ 

The quivering 
Quicksands of destiny beneath her stir. 
Is heaven a mocking shield w^hich ever keeps 
God from our prayers ? 
MIRIAM 

David, contain thy heart. 
^A faint uproar begins afar ; and dawn^ 
DAVID 

The battle ! on the wind. Abiathar, 
Speed out upon the mountain-side and cull 
All that befalls. 

[Adah opens the gate. Abiathar goes.'\ 
ADAH 

[^Springing back A Oh ! 
DAVID 

Child, why do you quail ? 
ADAH 

My mistress, Merab ! 
DAVID 

Girl .? 
ADAH 

I saw her — she 
Is coming hither ! Do not let her — she 
I fear — I fear her ! 

DAVID 

Hither coming ? 
[Merab throws open the gate and enters^ 
ADAH 

Oh! 

I io6 ] 



DAVID 

MERAB 

Woman and witch, did Adriel, my husband. 
Come to you with the king ? 

[S/ie sees David and shrinks.^ 
DAVID 

Unnatural, 
Unkind, most cruel sister ! 
MERAB 

You are here ? 
DAVID 

Once me you would have poisoned, but the coil 
Within your bosom I beheld. And now 
Michal your sister is the victim. 
MERAB 

I— 
Know not your meaning. 
DAVID 

The battle burning yonder. 
If it adversely veers, the king has planned 
Michal is not to live, lest she may hap 
Unto my arms. 
MERAB 

That Michal shall be slain ? 
\The tumult again. ^ 
DAVID 

Almighty, smite, and save to thee thy people ! 
And save thy altars unto Israel. 

\He bows his head. A stir comes at the gate.] 
MERAB 

David, 'tis Adriel ! 

[ 107] 



DAVID 

ADRIEL 

Ope ! open you ! 
DAVID 

At last the word. 

MERAB 

Girl, Adah, draw the bar. 

[David throws a cloak over his face. Adah obeys, 

Adriel enters, and Doeg, who pauses in quick alarms 

as David goes between him and the gate.\ 

DOEG 

What place is this ? Why do you bar that gate ? 

Merab, 'tis you ? Why do you gaze, rigid ? 

And this is the blind witch, Miriam ? 

DAVID 

It is. 

\He throws off his cloak^ 
DOEG 

Lured ? I am snared ? a trap ? 
DAVID 

Where have you Michal ? 

DOEG 

[Drawing.] No closer ! 

DAVID 

If she is an atom harmed ! 

Where is she ? 
DOEG 

I was the servant of the king, 
I but obeyed him. 

DAVID 

And thy horrible heart. 

Then speak, or unto frenzy I am driven. 

[ '°8 1 



DAVID 

DOEG 

I'll drive you there with 

[Breaks off with low laugh,'\ 

DAVID 

Tell it ! 

DOEG 

Unto your 
Soft sympathy — and passion ? \Laughs.'\ She is dead. 
DAVID 

[Immovable^ then repressed^ 
If it is so, the lightning, that is wrath 
Within the veins of God, should sink its fang 
Into thy bosom and sear out thy heart. 
If it is so, this momentary calm. 
This silence pouring overfull the world. 
Would rush and in thee cry until thy bones 
Broken of guilt are crumbled in thy groans. 
Dead, she is dead ? 
MIRIAM 

No, David, my lord, he lies ! 
[Strangely^ as in a trance^ 
To wound you, lies ! 
DAVID 

Not dead ? 

MIRIAM 

I see her eyes ! 

\All listen amazed?^ 
I see her in a vision. She is near — 
Is in a cave — is bound — and is alone. 
I will go to her — quickly bring her. 

[ 109 1 



DAVID 

DOEG 

Not 
\^Lunges at her^ 
If this shall reach you. 
DAVID 

Ah, to pierce a woman ! 
[Miriam y?Wj her way out.^ 
You've plotted, false have been and bloody, foul. 
And as a pestilence of midnight marsh 
Have oozed corruption into all around you. 
The kingdom thro' you is in brokenness. 
Within its arteries you flow, poison. 
Incentive of irruption and unrest. 
Of treachery and disaffection's sore. 
Till even the stars of truest ray seem tares 
Sown hostile o'er the nightly vale of heaven. 

\Drawing Jirmly y he coldly ^ skilfully approaches for attack.^ 



DOEG 
DAVID 



\Retreating.'\ No further ! 



Unto the end ! 
\He rushes iriy they engage. Doeg is wounded, recovers, 
defends furiously, then is disarmed and forced under ^ 
Thy villainy is done. 

\The gate opens and Abiathar hurries in.] 
ABIATHAR 

David, the battle 

[He sees Doeg and stops.] 
DAVID 

Fetter him. 

[i.o] 



DAVID 

ABIATHAR 

Only fetter ? [His dagger out.] the murderer 
Of priestly sanctity and of my father ? 
DAVID 

Abiathar ! You know obedience ? 

[Abiathar sullenly sheathes his weapon and binds Doeg. 
A dim panic is heard afar, and a lament without. 
David, who has sunk to a seat, springs anxiously up.] 
Listen ! that cry ! 
THE VOICE 

Woe ! woe ! 
DAVID 



What is its wail ? 



THE VOICE 

The battle's lost ! 

DAVID 

Abiathar ? 

THE VOICE 

Saul flees ! 
DAVID 

Abiathar, is lost ? 
ABIATHAR 

I fear it. 
DAVID 

Then [Pointing to Doeg.] 
Off with his armor for me, I will go 
Forth and perchance may backward bend defeat. 
Duty to Saul is over. 
ADRIEL 

You must not. 
A fruitless intrepidity it were. 

[Ill] 



DAVID 

ABIATHAR 

Remember your anointing ! 
ADRIEL 

The prophesy ! 
[Miriam enters leading Michal. A moment's suspense.'] 
MERAB 

See! 
ADRIEL 

See! 
MERAB 

She liveth ! 
MIRIAM 

David 

MICHAL 

\Pleading to him.'\ It is I. 

MIRIAM 

The cords were cruel, hungrily sank in 
Her wrists and ankles. 
MICHAL 

David, look on me. 

DAVID 

My words must be alone with her — alone. 
ADRIEL 

Come, all of you — the battle. 

\They go out the gate. David stands speechless.'] 

MICHAL 

David — my lord ! 
I ask not anything but to be heard — 
Though once I would not hear. Has all of life 
No glow for me ! 

[1.2] 



DAVID 

DAVID 

Betrayers should have none. 
MICHAL 

I was a woman — the entanglement 

Of duty amid love we have no skill 

To loosen, but with passion. 

DAVID 

You too late 
Remember it is so. 

MICHAL 

Nobility 
All unbelievable it seemed that you 
Could innocently wait on time to tide 
You to the kingdom. Then forgive, I plead. 
DAVID 

But in the wilderness, your perfidy ! 
MICHAL 

Doubt of it welleth thro' your voice. No, no. 

To save you strove I ! 

DAVID 

Michal ? 
MICHAL 

Not to betray ! 

From Saul, my father, penitent I fled. 

Seeking you in Engeddi's wild. 
DAVID 

And Phalti ? 
MICHAL 

'Twas wedding him I loathed. 
DAVID 

Say true ! 

[i>3] 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

This knife 
Unfailingly into my breast had spared 
Me from him, had not flight. 

DAVID 

This — this can be ? 

[A great joy dawning in him.^ 
Beyond all hope is it, even as day's 
Wide empery outspans our littleness. 

\Goes toward her.^ 
A tithing of thy loveliness were beauty 
Enough for earth. Yet it is mine, is mine ? 
MICHAL 

David — forever ! long as odorous 
Cooling o'er Lebanon shall blow, long as 
The swinging sapphire of the sea shall flash 
Up to the sun: until the soul no more 
Is soul, but vapor ! 

DAVID 

Michal ! 
MICHAL 

Evermore ! 
\She sinks into his arms, and there is a pause. But a sud- 
den confusion of cries is heard and they start apart. 
The gate is flung back and Adriel enters^ shaken 
with awe. He looks from one to the other, silent^ 
DAVID 

\At /ast.] Adriel ! 

What have you ! 
ADRIEL 

Saul ... is slain ! 



DAVID 

MICHAL 

My father ? 

ADRIEL 

Slain ! 

And Jonathan 

DAVID 

No! 

ADRIEL 

Fell beside him down. 
The fray was fast — Israel fled — the foe 
Fierce after Saul, whom Jonathan defended. 
MICHAL 

My father ! 
DAVID 

And my brother Jonathan ! 
If I believe it will not miracle 
Alone bring joy again unto my pain ? 

[T/ie wailing again without y and deeper groans !\ 
O Israel, the Infinite has touched 
Thy glory and it changes to a shroud ! 
Thy splendor is as vintage overspilt. 
For Saul upon the mountains low is lying. 
And Jonathan beside him, beautiful 
Beyond the mar of battle, and of death. 

\He bows his head in tears.] 
O kingly Jonathan, would I might give 
The beating of my life into your veins — 
Willing for it would I be drouth and die. 
How are the mighty fallen and the fair ! 
\fFith lifted artn, deeply moved?[ 

["5] 



DAVID 

Peaks, mountains of Gilboa, let no more 
Dew be upon you, and as sackcloth let 
Clouds cover you, and ashes be your soil. 
Until I bring upon Philistia 
And Gath and Askalon extinguishing. 
And sorrow — and immensity of tears ! 

[Mi c HAL goes to him and takes his hand. He folds her in 
his arms.^ 
But we must calm the flowing of this grief. 
Though yet we cannot mind us to remember 
Love will as sandal-breath and trickling balm 
O'erheal us in the unbegotten years. 
Too headlong must not be our agony. 
Hush now thy woundedness, my Michal, now. 
See, o'er the East the lifted wings of dawn. 

[S/owfy they climb the stair to the house-top. As they look 
away toward the battle' s rout the clouds party and the 
full brightness of the sun breaks over them.^ 

CURTAIN. 



[ii6] 



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